James William Beekman

James William Beekman (22 November 1815 – 15 June 1877) was an arts patron and politician from New York who served as the vice president of the New York Hospital. He was a member of the prominent Beekman family. Early life James William Beekman was born in New York City on November 22, 1815. He was the son of Gerard Beekman (1774–1833) and Catharine Saunders (1785–1835). His paternal grandparents were James Beekman (1732–1807) and Jane Keteltas (1734–1817). His 2x great-grandfather was Gerardus Beekman, and his 3x great-grandfather was Dutch Wilhelmus Beekman, who sailed with Peter Stuyvesant to New Netherlands, and was an officer of the Dutch West India Company. He graduated from Columbia College in 1834, and studied law with John Landis Mason, but never joined the New York Bar Association. His father died in 1833 left him with money, and the death of his uncle, James Beekman, Jr. (1758-1837), added to his real estate holdings on the East River near Fifty-second street, including the Beekman mansion, "Mount Pleasant", a place of historic interest from its prominence in Revolutionary times. Career He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 6th D.) in 1849; and of the New York State Senate (5th D.) from 1850 to 1853, sitting in the 73rd, 74th, 75th and 76th New York State Legislatures.